The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, 310 Mount’s Corner Drive, Freehold Township, will present “Gellman American Dream,” a documentary about the Gellman family that was created by New Jersey filmmaker Gary Gellman, on May 15 at 3 p.m.
The documentary features the Gellman family, which has called New Jersey home for 110 years. As Jewish immigrant farmers during the first half of the 20th century, they settled in western Monmouth County and built a business supplying vegetables to the Garden State region, according to a press release.
According to Gary Gellman, a grandson, four generations of his family are still alive. His oldest living aunt, age 97, the only one of nine children still alive and a lifelong resident of Monmouth County, hopes to attend the premier of the film.
Karin Levy Gellen, of Boca Raton, Fla., who is the co-author of “Yesterday,” a Gellman family historical book, will also be present among other guests.
After the premiere of the film, Gellman will explain how families can create their own history documentary. He will provide guidance about the creation process and describe how he collected all of the materials necessary to put together the documentary about his family, from family movies to newspaper articles, according to the press release.
“We recorded interviews with family members in their 80s and 90s, incorporated old film reels, photographs and media publications, and created a 30-minute piece that documents our family history,” Gellman said. “Our Jewish history came alive as we produced this documentary and uncovered our fascinating past.”
Gellman is the founder of Gellman Images.
Reservations for the screening and talk are recommended. Admission is $8 for museum members and $10 for non-members. To make a non-refundable paid reservation, call 732-252-6990 or visit www.jhmomc.org. The Jewish Heritage Museum is on the second floor of the historic Levi Solomon Barn in the Mount’s Corner shopping center.
